Intellectuals urged to fight extremism
The 14th International Urdu Conference concluded with an appeal to the intellectuals and literati to come forward in the fight against extremism.
"We cannot allow to roll back the progress the society has made over the ages," Arts Council of Pakistan President Muhammad Ahmed Shah at the concluding ceremony.
He said that the conference has extended its outreach with people attending the event online from across the world. He said the Quaid-e-Azam's dream of a Pakistan where identity of religion seizes to exist and everyone is a citizen of Pakistan cold become a reality.
"We need to foster literature, and culture. Today, I heard no voice of hatred, today I see the generous city which opened its heart to the migrants of the partition," Shah said.
He turned down the proposal of allowing commercial groups and government to take control of the conference, saying it will spoil the harmony of the event. Shah recalled with nostalgia the lone girl in white chaddar, Zehra Niggah, reciting poetry at mushairas.
Today, Zehra Nigah refused to accept life time achievement award, however, on insistence she accepted on condition that it will go to Dr Adeeb Rizvi of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant.
The second award went to Mustansar Hussain Tarar and the third to Sindhi writer Imdad Hussaini. A Bank of Punjab award went to Dr Adeb Rizvi.
Writer and satirist Anwer Maqsood conducted the final session and left the audience in stitches with his subtle remarks.
Music and dance Internationally renowned dancer Naheed Siddiqui performed classical dance to the tune of Sitar player Nawaz Nafees Khan which was highly appreciated by the audience and applauded. Later there was a qawwali in which Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwals and Group recited Sufi that left the audience mesmerised.
Read More: K-P considering safeguards against extremism
Urdu criticism in contemporary scenario
On the fourth and last day of the first session of the 14th International Urdu Conference held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, a session was organized on "Urdu Criticism Contemporary Scenario" which was moderated by Shahida Hassan and Anis Ashfaq online from India.
On this occasion, Nasir Abbas Nayyar on "New Critical Trends in Seventy-Five Years", Qazi Abid on "New Critical Ideas and Contemporary Fiction", Sofia Yousuf on "Modern Novel Criticism and Feminine Consciousness", Qasim Yaqoob, who attended online from Islamabad, on "Criticism of Urdu Novel After Independence" whereas Rukhsana Saba expressed her thoughts on "Scenario of Cultural Criticism in the Modern Age" besides moderating the event.
Book launches
Meanwhile, a session was arranged regarding conversation with Arfa Syeda Zahra which was moderated over by B Gul.
Arfa Syeda Zahra said that I know seven different languages and can speak them fluently but other languages do not have my heritage and cultural blood.
She said that no matter what the language, the dialects could not be softened because there was a lack of softness in the situation people were going through.
The session on the launch of Asghar Nadeem Syed's novel "Dasht-e-Imkan" was moderated by Irfan Javed. Commenting on his novel, Asghar Nadeem Syed said that the relationship between a man and a woman is very delicate.
He said that if a man tells the truth to a woman or a woman tells the truth to a man, then the marriage will not last and if it lasts, it will not be the same.
Second Story of a Bad Woman
Qasim Bughio moderated the launching ceremony of Kishwar Naheed's book "Second Story of a Bad Woman". The participants included Kishwar Naheed, the author of the book, and Noorul Huda Shah, a wellknown writer.
Participating in the discussion, Noorul Huda Shah said that it is unfortunate that in this crowd which is seen everywhere, the number of bad women is decreasing.
The word bad woman is not just rhetoric. The meaning of these words will change in history. "Every woman who speaks and thinks will proudly say, yes, I am a bad woman. I am a sinful woman. Not only Kishwar Naheed but also Asma Jahangir, Fehmida Riaz who stood firm against dictatorship, are considered bad women," she said.